Out with the old, in with the ... old. After three years as Pitt’s coach, Paul Chryst returns to his hometown, his alma mater and the program where he served as offensive coordinator for seven years. He hopes to build on a West title and bowl win over the SEC as the Badgers search for stability on the sideline—and at QB.

Offense

How the Badgers beat you: Wisconsin is methodical, you might even say predictable—but if it ain’t broke … Since 2007, the Badgers have ranked among the Big Ten’s top three in rush yards per game. Last season they finished No. 3 in all of the FBS in rush ypg (320.1) and No. 1 in ypc (6.9). Chryst isn’t going to stray from the philosophy he helped establish in Madison, meaning there is little disconnect between the new staff and veteran players. “You’re speaking the same language,” says O-coordinator Joe Rudolph, a former All-Big Ten Wiscy guard. So it’ll be up to junior RB Corey Clement (949 yards, 9 TDs in ’14) not to drop the baton that has been passed from Montee Ball to James White to Melvin Gordon, who set the Big Ten single-season record with 2,587 rushing yards in ’14.

How you beat the Badgers: Tanner McEvoy returns to his rightful safety position, giving senior Joel Stave a chance to redeem himself after “control” issues led to more INTs (10) than TDs (9) in 10 games in ’14. He and McEvoy combined for the No. 116 pass offense in the FBS (148.7 ypg), and with three new O-line starters, the run game might not be as reliable to bail out Stave. Leading WR Alex Erickson returns (55 catches), but sure-handed TE Sam Arneson (29 catches, 4 TDs) is gone.

Defense

How the Badgers beat you: The secondary was the Badgers’ strong suit last year, and the back four appears set to handle even more responsibility. Senior SS Michael Caputo brings the wood in run support (team-high 106 tackles), and McEvoy’s natural athleticism should help the Badgers improve on their paltry 6 picks, second fewest in the Big Ten. Corners Sojourn Shelton and Darius Hillary also return, making up one of the most formidable tandems in the league, if not the country. This group deserves much of the credit for the fourth-best pass D (168 ypg) in the FBS last season. The D also ranked third in third-down conversion rate (28.4 percent) and first downs per game (14.7).

How you beat the Badgers: With the loss of hole-plugging DTs Konrad Zagzebski and Warren Herring and ILBs Derek Landisch and Marcus Trotter (28 tackles for loss combined), there is now a very soft spot in the middle of last year’s stout front seven, which ranked 23rd in the FBS in rush yards per game (126.1 ypg) and No. 6 in sack rate (9.6 percent). The development of LBs Vince Biegel (16½ tackles for loss, 7½ sacks) and Joe Schobert (13½ TFL) will ease the transition, but it might take time for four new starters on the front seven to jell—although Bama won’t afford much patience.